Mobile apps built by Newark students ease the school day

Eloy Trujillo has created an app to identify the origin of a last name.Amanda Brown/For The Star-Ledger

NEWARK — Mobile phones might as well be teens’ main artery to the world.

They’re with them everywhere, their fingers texting, scrolling the internet, posting pictures on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

But 15 sophomores from Newark Technology High School got the skinny this year on what those little computers can do when they’re pulling the strings. Thanks to a program brought to their classroom, the Center for Mobile Research and Innovation at Seton Hall University taught the students how to create mobile apps that other kids can use.

Need to convert a fraction? No problem. Want to learn how to box? Ding-ding. How about eating right? That’s covered, too. In fact, there’s something to get just about any disorganized high school student through the day.

The kids — call them junior inventors if you’d like — are part of the center’s Young Developers Program, a pilot project that ultimately will become an after-school program in cities across the country.

Michael Taylor, the center’s director, said AT&T and Microsoft got behind its push to get urban teens excited about science, technology, engineering and math. And because research shows many of them access the internet on their phones, Taylor said targeting city kids with limited resources was a good way to tap into their interest using technology.

"Every field is driven by mobile technology," he said. "So we thought if we give them access to creating mobile apps, no matter where they go, that’s a transferable skill."

The key, however, was creating something that promotes social good.

Katie Oliveira, 16, did that with "Fraction Transaction."

"This app is one you won’t regret downloading," she said.

Katie Oliveira has created an app to help with fractions at Newark's Technology High School.Amanda Brown/For The Star-Ledger

It converts decimals into fractions and percentages, and it can convert fractions into decimals and percentages. The app also adds, subtracts, multiplies and divides fractions.

"This helped me understand fractions better," Oliveira said. "If other kids have the same problem I had, this can help them."

The group’s apps are all engaging and well put together, taking you from one screen to the next with pop-ups explaining the app. At first, many of the kids didn’t think this would be possible in six months.

But with guidance from their high school computer teacher, Fausto DeLaRosa, and encouragement from Seton Hall student mentors, the kids figured out the glitches and the coding.

Joniel Rodriguez and David Castro Jr. said they sacrificed weekends, getting up early to Skype so their app "Health 4 U" would be just right.

The two are health conscious and realized many young people don’t know about the human body and the harm done by a poor diet or alcohol consumption.

They have an easy-to-navigate, colorful app with a food pyramid that offers information on serving sizes and what foods to eat. If you’re curious about the brain, liver, heart or kidneys, click on any major organ in the app and each appears with an explanation of what it does.

As they tweaked their app, working out the kinks, Castro said, the project gave him a better understanding of how math is needed in life.

"I see how it’s used in the real world," he said. "Before, math was just in the books. This experience shows me that these applications are for the people."

In that case, Brandon Cumpa’s app gets you inside his head. He loves boxing and wants to be in the Golden Gloves this fall. So, he came up with "Fighting Spirit," which can teach you how to box.

"If you want to pursue something, you need a fighting spirit," he said.

Want to learn how to throw a jab, a right cross, an uppercut? His app explains it all. It also tells you about healthy foods to eat while training, and it’s paying off for him. Cumpa has dropped 20 pounds. The apps are on their cell phones, but the students got a chance to show off their work Saturday, at a special presentation at the Newark Museum.

All of you can check them out soon. They are free and will be available for download next month from the Microsoft Windows phone store.